Septic tank for sewage-disposal.



T. I. WESTON. SEPTIC TANK FDR SEWAGE DISPOSAL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 11,1914.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

i/zamifii'j/m by Attornevs Witnesses STA'IES- PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS ISAAC WESTON, OF COLUMBIA, SOUTH- CAROLINA. v

snr'nc TANK ron SEW'AGE nIsrosAL'.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914,

Applicationflledluly 11, 1914: Serial No. 850,890.-

Toall whom it maycomern:

Be-it known that I, TnomsI. WESTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbia, in the county of Richland and State of South Carolina, have invented a new. and useful Septic Tank for- Sewage Disposal, of which the following is a specification. v

The present invention appertainsto a septic tank for sewage disposal,. and aims to provide a'novel and improved apparatus of that character for domestic use in rural or isolated districts for the hygienic and convenient disposal ofthe sewage.

The invention contemplates the provision of a sewage: disposal apparatus which may be inexpensively manu actured at a central plant by skilled labor and shipped to the purchaser a rural or isolated district, whereby 1 the apparatus may be readily set up by the purchaser, even-t ough he be unskilled, and whereby no special machinery will be necessary in installing the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide a septic tank of uni ue construction and which. will be im rov generally, to enhance the utility t ereof, and-to render the apparatus most-hygienic, practical and eflicientin its use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which .will apcar as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the comination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed,v it being understood that changes-in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without de arting from'the spirit of the invention.

he invention has been illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure Lisa vertical median section of the apparatus assembled, and Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the apparatus taken on theline2-2 of Fig. 1.

In carrying out the present invention there are provided a pair-of companion or complementary chambers 1 and 2, the first of which acts as a receiver, while the other serves as a discharge chamber. Each of the chambers 1 and 2 comprises an upright cylindrical shell 3, which is preferably molded from concrete or other vplastic material, and which has the embedded reinforcing 4. Eachofthe shells -3 is provided with a molded concrete bottom5 having the embedded reinforcement 5 andthe bottoms 5 are preferably molded integral'with the shells 3, although the bottoms may be molded-findependent of the shells and cemented thereto. Each of the shells 3 is further provided with a cover or top fiseated thereon,- and preferably molded from concrete and-having the embedded reinforcement 7 for strengthening the same. The chambers 1 and 2, in practice, are implanted or embedded in'the soil, as indicated in Fig. 1, but it is to be-understood that the chambers-may be arranged in different manners according to the various circumstances.

The chambers-1 and 2 are disposed adjacent each other and are brought into communication by means of api e 8 which is engaged through suitable openings provided in the adjacent walls of the chambers 1 and 2adjacent their upper ends, the pipe 8 preferably-being formed from terra cotta or tile,

and having a depending inlet arm or branch 9 within thereceiver orchamber 1 to provide a sealed connection between the upper portions of-the two chambers.

The receiver or chamber 1 is provided with an upper inlet diametrically opposite the pipe 8, and to this end, an inflow p1pe 10, preferably formed of terra cotta or tile, has one end engaged through asuitable opening. provided in the corresponding wall of the chamber 1, and the intermediate portion-0f the inflow' pipe 10 is provided with a dependingbend 11 forming a trap for preventing the escape of foul gases from the chamber'l backthrough the inflowpipe 10.

Mounted between theopposite side wallsof the chamber 1 intermediate the inflow pipe 10 and the dischar e pipe 8 of the chamber projects orextends downwardl m aflsuifi; V

putlet side thereof, it being noted in this cient depth within the water, as illustrated in Fig; 1, to cause the fluid topass down; wardly under the heme or part1tion12. in,- passingfromthe inflow pipe 10, to the plpe 8. There is an opening below the partition or ba-file 12, for' the passage of-thesewage--- from the inlet side of the, chamber to the connection that ,the pipe s l0 and... are in, a-linement immediately above the normal water level of the chamber;1 ,"3.while the inlet arm or branch 9 of the pipe 8 depends belowv thenornial-wateivlevelto prevent the escape of gasirom -bne chamber to the 1 other and .to prevent'.-the flow of'floating th'ePiP 8 into 'they'chamberz2. Y

The discharge chamber 2 is provided with an outlet siphon," which embodies an up right block '14 preferably molded from con crete or other plastic material and having one side curved orrformed to snugl fit that wall of the; :chamher 2 remote 0111 the matter within the chamber 1 to pass through chamber 1.:Th6 siphon block 14is seated il -P011 thei bottom'of the chamber 2, and its upper end; projects slightly above the n0r-- maiwater levelof the chamberl or the axis" fithepipe 8. .The siphon block-14 is pro or intake arm 16 lea slightly below the lower end' of the intake arm 16 off the siphon, while the bend defined;

vided witha'n upright passage 15 which extends tobutterminates sli tly shortoi the upper and-lower endsao --the block '14, and the block 14: is rovidedwith an inlet sing downwardly from the upper end of thepassage 15 1 and termiat a point above'i -thevbottom of the cham er 2, as at 17'. -'-"l-he:rbl0 ck 14 is fufir ther provided with an .butlet or discharge' arm 18 extending upwardly-from; the lower-i end of the passage 15v-to'the IateraI oPening or-socket 19 providedin thatface' or side of ,the. block 14 which-crests against the corresponding wall of the chamber 2..- Th

ing or socket 19- is disposed "on a leve or 1 by, the discharge arm-l8ofthe siphon and is pi'ovided with opening 20;:m 'ig'm i wit sertedinwardlyflirough theopenin'g 21 and the; lower portion of thepassage 15* forms-28 trap extending belowethe opening319-V and the lower end'17 of the intake arm-16. The corresponding side; wall of the chamber fl' theopening or socket 19 of the-siphon lo k- 14, and an outlet, tile or'pipe 21 1s in into: the openingior socket 19 SIPhOD- Z. "I i As "will appear fi.0m the' foregoing taken? mconnection with the drawing, the present apparatus --;-.co np -ises :but a com aratively few nurnherof simple parts, which may- -b'e readily -manufactured from concrete,- with r the .exception of the pipes 8, 10 and 21, and

these pipes me be constructed of term- ,cotta or tile, e several parts may ibe i 1 or chamber fat one side of the baflie cap r readily shipped to the purchaser or user, andmay be conyeniently setup by him without experience or skill, and without the necessity of special machinery, 'or forms.

In assembling the apparatus, it being noted that the shells 3-"may be conveniently rolled upon ,the ground to the point where the sewage disposal plant is to' be arranged,

cemented within the chamber 2. The'inflow conduit or-drain (not shown) which extends fromfthe dwelling to which the septic tankis to be connected, is connected to the inflow pipe or trap 10, andthe-joints of the inflow" conduit or drain are 1 preferably cement/ed to; avoid the escape offthe' -sewage'in passing fromf'the dwelling 'to" the disposal-f plana The seepage tile, ;(not shown)"-wvliichi-are-ofi porous'material, are laid on a slight-angle of inclination to communicate with the outlet pipe 21 of the chamber2fand are pref: erabl laid with uncemented joints and withm a loose material The seepage 'tfle fare prefof crushed gravel or other er'ably' laid within sixteen inchs 'below-thesurface 0f the ground, since the Soil bacteria cannot thrive at a greater dejth in the soil.

However, if the soil is' loo'seand well adapt.

ed to absorption, the seepage tile be "laid inthe soil at mproper depth and ate; slight-angle of inclinatlon to prevent these ticdischar ed from the tank from owing rapidly'to Bend of the seepage cenduia Thus, when the seepage conlot duitihafs afi fall ofnot more than our inchsper hundredfeet, the septic liquid in-flewin Mi -We seepage-"oi the 'hquld into the .r p I t I operatic the sewage-passing meager the trap pipe 10 from the infiow conduitmor 3 drain willfbeflischarged intothe reta'aiver tition12, 'wlieieby thesolid constituents of. the'. sewage will be broken up or disintegrated "before passing 'under the partition or bafiej-"lfl ilhe"tralfpipe 10 being continuaIlYffilld-WilbPreventthe esca e of; foul through the trappi e 10 intothe inflow con- "duit sea-creme; (i

; consequently, the foul coneuia'ww ll ughout its length; to insu re' J25 gases jfloih the receiver orcham r l-ba'ck' dwelling as would beobjectionable.

gases will not be liable to pass back into lt fie e solid matter flowing into the receiver or chamber 1, will be confined in the receiving side of the receiver or chamber'by the partition or baffle 12, until the solid matter disintegrates or becomes heavy enough to sink. This causes the liquid and solid matter within the receiving portion of the chamber 1 to flow downwardly in a gentle manner, thereby permitting the action of the bacteria which is essential to render the solution septic. The action of the bacteria in the chamber or receiver 1 will reduce the sewage to a liquid before passing into the second or discharge chamber 2, and as above indicated, the downturned or depending branch or arm 9 of the pipe 8 will prevent any floating matter within the chamber or receiver 1 from passing into the chamber 2, since the liquid flows into the pipe 8 below the normal water level of the receiver or chamber 1. This assures of the flow of the liquid only from the receiver or cham er 1 into the discharge chamber 2. The connecting pipe 8 between the two chambers assists in the gentle mixing of the liquid to assist in the action of the bacteria, and furtherfore, the pipe 8 prevents the passage of gases from one chamber to the other. As a result, the second or discharge chamber 2 contains practically a liquid sewage only.

The discharge siphon of the chamber 2 enables the said chamber to be automatically emptied periodically, at intervals of about one day apart, which is desirable for retaining the sewage within the tank a sufiicient length of time for the proper action of the bacteria. Thus, as the discharge chamber 2 becomes filled up to the pipe 8, the intake arm 16 of the siphon will become filled. as soon as the liquid level within the chamber 2 rises up to the pipe 8, it will start to flow down the passage 15 of the siphon, and as a result, the siphonic action through the siphon will be started, and the liquid will thence flow from the siphon into the seepage tile, until the vacuum within the siphon is broken by the lowering of the liquid level below the inlet end 17 of the intake arm 16. In this connection it is to be noted that the chamber 1 is filled by intermittent gushes or charges, whereby the chamber 2 will be similarly filled, in order that after the level of the contents of the ehamber 2 rises to the point illustrated in Fig. 1., the succeeding gush or charge flowing through the pipe 8 will cause the liquid to rise suddenly within the siphon, to start the siphenic action. The end 17 of the intake arm 16 is spaced slightly above the outlet pipe 21, to assure of the siphonic action without relying upon the down grade of the seepage tile. Then, as the discharge chamber 2 again becomes filled up to the predetermined dischar e level, the action of the bacteria from tie sewage will continue for theaforesaid period, it being desirable that the sewage be discharged about once a day, to assure of the pro er action of the bacteria, since they thrive est when the liquid is held within the septic tank for the period indicated. Even when the discharge chamber 2 is emptied, due to the si honic action, a sufficient amount of liquid Wlll. remain-in the chamber 2, due to the s acing of the intake arm 16 of the siphon above the bottom of the chamber 2, to assure of the culture of bacteria within the chamber 2 to act quickly upon the new liquid introduced in the chamber 2 from the chamber 1 as the chamber 1 overflows.

Although the apparatus may be constructed in different sizes to increase or decrease the capacity thereof, the capacity of the apparatus may be indefinitely increased by providing the same with a plurality of chambers or receivers 1 arranged in series, the first receiver or chamber 1 having the inflow pipe 10 connected thereto, the last receiver or chamber 1 having a pipe 8 connected thereto to lead to the discharge chamber 2, and the respective chambers 1 being connected by pipes 8 similar to the connection between the chambers 1 and 2 illustrated. The removable covers 6 normally close the chambers 1 and 2, and may be removed at any time to enable access to be had into the chambers for purposes of cleaning, repairing or replacing the parts.

The present apparatus is designed and intended particularly for one family use, to be purchased and set up by those living in rural or isolated districts, and without the ineurrenee of great expense or trouble. The other advantages and capabilities of the present invention will be obvious to those versed in the art, without further comment being deemed necessary.

. Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a device of the character described, a discharge chamber having an upper inlet, an upright siphon block disposed within the chamber and fitting against one wall thereof, the siphon block having a siphon passage therein, and the said wall of the chamber and the outlet end of the siphon passage having registering openings, and an outlet pipe fitted in said openings.

2. In a device of the character described, a discharge chamber having an upper inlet, an upright siphon block disposed within the chamber and fitting one wall thereof. the siphon block having an upright passage, an inlet arm leading from the upper end of the said passage and terminating above the bottom of the chamber, an upturned discharge arm extending from the lower end of the as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signapas'isage, and an openingi at} the eid oil thg ture in the presence of two witnesses. sai ischarge arm, an t e sizi we 0 the chamber having an opening registering THOMAS ISAAC WESTON 5 with the said opening, and an outlet pipe Witnesses:

fitting in said openings. F. A. BUEL,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing L. B. ALLEN. 

